Crown prince ready to ascend throne but woe remains over ill princess

With Japan's Emperor Akihito set to abdicate on April 30, 2019, the focus will likely shift to Crown Prince Naruhito, who will ascend the throne, and Crown Princess Masako, who has long been in a battle with depression.While the elder son of the 83-year-old emperor looks certain to breathe fresh air into the world's oldest hereditary monarchy, scholars and royal watchers expressed caution over the increased burden and added public attention on the crown princess, who is still recuperating from stress-induced illness.At a press conference on his birthday in February, the 57-year-old crown pr…READ FULL ARTICLE